Southern Lawn Care Guide

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August 10, 2017
by
TruGreen

Here at TruGreen, we believe a healthy lawn leads to a happy life. Besides family barbecues, picnics, and yard games, a healthy lawn is also an asset to the urban environment. In fact, a 2,500 square foot lawn can produce enough oxygen for a family of four and help reduce pollution in groundwater.

But Southern lawns are subject to environmental stresses, opening the door for possible insect infestations and lawn diseases. Worry not. TruGreen is a partner in your quest for a healthy, lush lawn. If you reside in Texas, Oklahoma or Arkansas, continue reading below for tips and details for what to expect from your Southern lawn each season, including some of the nuisances that you may encounter, with links to programs we offer to prevent or fix the lawn problems.

Types of grass in the South

The first step to a great lawn is knowing what kind of grass you’re growing. Common grasses found in Southern lawns include Tall Fescue, Zoysia, Bermuda, and St. Augustine, each comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Bermuda

Pros

Dense, medium-fine texture

Excellent heat and drought tolerance

Rapid establishment and growth rate

Cons

Poor low temperature and shade tolerance

Becomes dormant and browns during winter months

St. Augustine

Pros

Coarse-textured turf

Shade-tolerant

Cons

Poor low-temperature tolerance

Can enter dormancy and discolor in winter months

Produces heavy thatch

Tall Fescue

Pros

Drought and heat tolerance

Deep root system

Cons

In areas of shade, it can thin out and require overseeding

Can be slow to recover from injury

Zoysia

Pros

Dense, tough turf

Good heat and drought tolerance

Better cold tolerance than most warm-season grasses

Cons

Slow to establish

Becomes dormant and browns during winter months

To get a lawn you’ll love, some preventative and reactionary efforts will need to be made by you as the homeowner, as well as by your dedicated TruGreen specialist. The below topics should be considered as you work with your specialist to make your lawn the best on the block.

Types of Weeds in the South

If weeds are present on your lawn, you may begin to notice visible results within days or weeks of your first service. If your lawn is changing colors or beginning to show bare spots, don’t be alarmed -- this is OK, in fact, this is good! Changing colors and bare spots are a normal sign that those pesky weeds are dying out, allowing your grass to have more space and nutrients. As your TruGreen specialist continues working over the following weeks, your lawn’s appearance will continue to improve. Keep an eye for the following weeds that are commonly found in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an annual warm-season weed. This means it thrives in the heat and will sprawl anywhere it can find sunlight, water, and bare soil. A crabgrass invasion can quickly get out of control if you’re not careful. The TruGreen Lawn Care program can help limit the spread of this difficult-to-control weed, but you can also help by keeping up with proper prevention techniques and regular maintenance. Maintaining a thick, healthy lawn, mowing your grass at the proper height, and avoiding light or excess watering are some of the steps you can take to help prevent a crabgrass invasion.

Spurge

The spurge family includes fast-growing summer weeds that grow low to the ground. Spurge is known as a prolific seed producer, and plants mature in just a few days during hot weather, especially in the South.

Clover

As a kid, you may have enjoyed picking the little white flowers that come along with clover. But as an adult, if you find clover in your yard, you’re probably not picking it for fun. Clover is a perennial weed that can vary in leaf shape and flower color, and grows well in moist areas.

Dallisgrass

Originating from Uruguay and Argentina, Dallisgrass is a perennial weed that has a yellow-green shade to it. It is found throughout the Southern states and produces many seeds which can spread via waterings, lawn mowers, humans, and pets. Signing up for a plan with pre-emergent weed control can help to control this weed before it becomes a problem.

Henbit

Henbit in an annual weed that produces trumpet-shaped, purple flowers. This weed shies away from thick, robust turf, so the best strategy for eliminating this weed is to keep up on the health and maintenance of your grass. If you have an outbreak of henbit, it’s best to deal with it in early spring while the plants are still young and more vulnerable to pre-emergent herbicides.

Annual bluegrass

Annual bluegrass, also known as Poa annua, is a very invasive and hard-to-eliminate weed. It can be identified by its boat-shaped blade tips and apple-green color. Keep an eye for this weed in winter months, as it grows best in cool, moist weather and will brown out and die under hot, dry conditions.

Rescuegrass

Rescuegrass is an annual and perennial weed that produces yellow flowers and grows in bunches. It often germinates in the fall. A fall pre-emergent application is advised, but as this weed can germinate into winter, a second application may be needed later in the fall around November.

For fighting common lawn pests in the South, consider TruGreen’s TruShield Lawn Pest Control, which can significantly reduce the number of pests in your yard, or Mosquito Defense, which can eradicate biting mosquitoes from your property.

How to care for your Southern lawn each season

Your yard’s needs will change month-to-month and season-to-season. And while your TruGreen specialist will help maintain your lawn’s health, there are still components of lawn care that you as the homeowner will need to watch and care for. The tips below will help you stay on track for a lush, healthy yard.

Summer

Water your lawn at the first signs of drought stress, and continue watering through the season. Signs of drought stress include thin, brown, and folding grass.

Mow frequently, but only 1/3 of the grass blade at a time.

Taller grass is more drought-tolerant, so water according.

If you start to notice weeds such as crabgrass and dallisgrass, call your TruGreen specialist.

Fire ants hit the peak of their activity over the summer. If you start to see these stinging pests around your home, ask your specialist about fire ant control.

As summer turns to fall, be careful not to overwater. Overwatering favors lawn diseases such as brown patch.

Fall

As the weather begins to cool, cut back on watering frequency.

Mow less often.

Shred fallen leaves into the grass to provide organic matter.

Replace the blades of rotary lawn mowers and lower them.

After lowering your mower blades at the end of fall, mow your grass shorter to prevent fungal disease from spreading.

If you use an irrigation system, reprogram it to water less during the winter.

Winter

Expect your warm-season grass to slow its growth.

Take time to prep your mower, check oil, driver belt, and blades. Watch our video below to see tips for transitioning your mower from fall to winter:

Water your lawn thoroughly once every two weeks if there is no precipitation...but be careful to not overwater.

Watch for winter grassy weeds or broadleaf weeds such as dandelion or thistle in between your treatments. If you see spot them, give your TruGreen specialist a call.

As winter comes to an end, check that mower blades are sharpened and mower is in good condition.

If you notice weeds starting to develop, talk to your TruGreen specialist about pre-emergent options.

Together, we can make great-looking turf year-round

In the South, your yard has to battle some hot summer temperatures. We can team up to apply seasonally appropriate pre- and post-emergent weed treatments, as well as fertilizer to stimulate your lawn’s color and growth and to help fortify it against extreme weather. To achieve a healthy lawn, we ask that you receive regular service visits, and follow the guidelines outlined above to help you achieve the best results possible. If you’re not signed up yet for regular services, click here to find a local branch near you or fill out the green box on the left to get a personal quote today.

*$29.95 First Application: Requires purchase of annual plan. Special price of $29.95 is for first application only, for new residential EasyPay or PrePay customers only, and applies to lawns up to 5,000 square feet. For lawns more than 5,000 square feet or for the regular lawn application price for a lawn of any size, please call for estimate. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Consumer responsible for all sales tax.

◆Guarantee applies to full plan customers only. ✦Purchase of full lawn plan required for Healthy Lawn Analysis, which is performed at the first visit.

✢ Special price is for first tree and shrub application only and for new tree and shrub residential customers only. The special price applies to installed plant material and shrubs and excludes mature, native and specialty trees such as fruit or certain ornamentals. Application includes up to 5 trees, no more than 25 ft. in height. For the regular tree and shrub application price, please call for an estimate. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount for the same service. Consumer responsible for all sales tax.

★★ Requires purchase of full mosquito plan. Special price of $39.95 is for first mosquito application only, for new EasyPay or PrePay residential customers only, and applies to properties up to 1 acre. For properties more than 1 acre, please call for estimate. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Consumer responsible for all sales tax. ✧ Guarantee applies to full plan customers only.

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